Missing piece

[TJNY]

A hydrant in the Bronx, N.Y. in the summer on a rainy day. In case you couldn't tell.

C&C more than welcome!

 

[Compaq]

Your subject is interesting, but I do not think your composition is the best. You have moved the fire hydrant into the edge of your frame, and there is much space left for our eyes to wander. Consider my figure below. I think you can make something with that hydrant with a missing piece, the juxtaposition is nice (as photographers like to call it). Maybe you would be able to make your subject the major part of your image, somehow?

Great idea - it just needs some refinement. You know, in writing, you never hand in your first try. The first try is called the "draft"; something to be improved upon. Why should photography be different? As writers rewrite and rewrite, photographers should return to the subject several times, and judge lighting and composition each time.

 

[TJNY]

I appreciate the critique. Considering it was taken from the passenger side window of a car as we rolled along, it's passable, yes?
It was one of those things where you ask your friend to go around the block because you saw something you may want to capture and take the pic quickly without much consideration for the points you make above! Sometimes i need to slow down.

 

[The_Traveler]

I appreciate the critique. Considering it was taken from the passenger side window of a car as we rolled along, it's passable, yes?

I suggest that this is an unproductive approach.
A mjaor part of the impact of a picture like this is the composition and, if that's bad, what's left?

 

[gsgary]

I appreciate the critique. Considering it was taken from the passenger side window of a car as we rolled along, it's passable, yes?
It was one of those things where you ask your friend to go around the block because you saw something you may want to capture and take the pic quickly without much consideration for the points you make above! Sometimes i need to slow down.

Well that was a pointless exercise you will never see photos from the passenger seat you have to walk and investigate every possibility

 

[TJNY]

Sometimes locations and situations arise where it is point & shoot or the moment is lost. I keep my camera with me while I work and sometimes that is just how it is. The above is an example of that. If I am out doing photography(hobby)it is a completely different story(approach).
I hear and understand what you guys are saying. Excellent points! Like I also mentioned, sometimes I need to slow down.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I've done my share of shooting out the car window, however I've done sports & events and I've learned how to frame and compose images well, and quick and efficiently too. It's taken a lot of practice. I don't think out the car window always works, it's a matter of the subject being in your viewfinder from the vantage point of the car in a way that works well as a photo.

I didn't see at first what the piece was that was missing, the angle and distracting background caught my eye more. I'd try with this one to straighten and crop (and framing on the fly takes a lot of practice I think).

Then try adjusting the contrast. I've done a lot of B&W film and darkroom work and this to me looks more gray than black and white. I learned to adjust to have a 'black' black and a 'white' white somewhere in the photo (which works for me digitally as a starting point too). If I get a proper exposure I don't usually have to adjust much. I think a B&W photo w/good contrast can make the subject stand out more.

You seem to be seeing something that can make for an interesting photo, it seems to be a matter of timing and framing and composing - keep practicing and get out of the car once in a while! LOL

 

[TJNY]

Yes sir! Excellent points! Thank you for looking and the comments! I do get out of the car! I swear! Just not on this day...it was raining and my gear isn't waterproof!

 

[TJNY]

?

 

[gsgary]

Yes sir! Excellent points! Thank you for looking and the comments! I do get out of the car! I swear! Just not on this day...it was raining and my gear isn't waterproof!

Thats no reason

Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2

 

[TJNY]

In your opinion. I am all for constructive criticism. Your not adding any. Thank you and good day.

 

[limr]

The second crop is definitely better. I still wish there were more space between the hydrant and the edge of the frame, but there's nothing to be done there. It's still a stronger picture than the original.

I'm not going to harp on the "Get out of the car!" point that's already been made. It's not always possible to get out of the car, and quite frankly, sometimes it can be liberating to shoot with a "just in case" kind of attitude once in a while. If nothing else, you now have identified a potentially really great shot, so maybe this one didn't quite hit the sweet spot, but now you know where to go back to, what things to pay attention to, and maybe next time you nail it.

It's hard to be really critical of our own work - and I don't mean being negative about it. I mean the ability after you've taken the shot to look at it objectively and ask yourself questions about what works and what doesn't. That also requires practice.

 

[TJNY]

Thank you, limr. Nicely put.